How to build a non-working cell phone interceptor

I’m no engineer but I’m fairly certain that hooking a microphone up to the battery connections of a universal remote control that’s suspended inside a metal bowl won’t be able to intercept cell phone conversations from up to 2 miles away. Feel free to use this video to trick your friends into wasting at least 4 minutes of their lives, though.

If this is somehow actually possible, please explain.

How to build a cell phone interceptor [TechAmok]